James Maddison Returns to Tottenham: A Long-Awaited Comeback
James Maddison finally pulled on a Tottenham shirt again on Sunday, ending a near year-long wait and easing fears he would start another season stuck in the treatment room.
The midfielder had not played a minute all summer, still feeling the effects of an unspecified problem that followed the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in pre-season last year – a setback that wiped out most of his campaign. With just a week left before Roberto De Zerbi’s side kick off their Premier League season away at Brentford, his absence had started to feel ominous.
Then his name appeared on the teamsheet.
Maddison started in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Hoffenheim at Hotspur Way, Spurs’ second meeting with the Bundesliga club in less than 24 hours. The day before, a different XI had swept to a 3-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Mikey Moore scoring twice and Richarlison also finding the net in front of home supporters.
This time there were no fans, no noise, just minutes that mattered.
Maddison lasted 45 of them on his first start in almost 12 months. It was a mixed return. Early on, he lost the ball inside his own box and then fouled Leon Avdullahu, handing Hoffenheim a penalty that Adam Hlozek converted to put the visitors ahead. Rust was inevitable; the important thing for Tottenham was that he came through the half unscathed before making way at the break for youngster Reiss Elliot-Parris.
If Maddison’s comeback was the headline, Mateus Fernandes quietly delivered the performance of the day. Spurs’ £85million summer signing from West Ham completed the full 90 minutes, a significant step after a calf problem picked up on the club’s tour of New Zealand and Australia had interrupted his preparations.
The Portugal international looked sharp again. His standout moment came on 20 minutes, when he whipped in a precise cross from a short corner routine that Ben Davies attacked at the near post, the veteran defender heading in from close range to cancel out Hlozek’s opener.
Tottenham then flipped the game on its head just before the interval. Pape Matar Sarr, also back in action, surged through midfield and drove at the Hoffenheim defence. The ball broke for highly rated winger Luca Williams-Barnett, who steadied himself and drilled his finish past Luca Philipp with the kind of composure that will not have gone unnoticed by De Zerbi.
The lead did not last. After the restart, Valentin Gendrey caught out Brandon Austin with a volley to make it 2-2. Hoffenheim almost went in front when Kevin Danso rattled the crossbar, while teenage winger Miracle Adewole went close late on as Spurs pressed for a winner that never came.
The scoreline will not trouble De Zerbi. The fitness bulletin might.
Alongside the positives – Maddison and Fernandes back, minutes for Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Williams-Barnett and Souza – there is a growing list of absentees with Brentford looming. Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie and Mohammed Kudus did not feature at all in pre-season, a glaring concern for a side trying to hit the ground running under a new manager.
The same cloud hangs over Dejan Kulusevski. The winger is only now easing back into training after a knee injury that has kept him out since May 2025. Dominic Solanke was missing again on Sunday, while goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario also sat out and is expected to leave the club before the summer transfer deadline on September 1.
Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons remain long-term absentees. Pedro Porro, given an extended break after Spain’s World Cup triumph, did not feature in pre-season either, though he returned to the training ground earlier this week.
Maddison is back. Fernandes looks ready. But with so many key names still watching from the sidelines, Tottenham head to Brentford with as many questions as answers.
